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Daily Dish: 10/9/2012

The Lowell Sun

Updated:
10/09/2012 11:45:45 AM EDT

Left to right, Canadian actors Daniel Gillies, Erica Durance and Michael Shanks pose Monday during the 28th International Film and Programme Market for TV, Video, Cable and Satellite in Cannes, France. AP PHOTO

Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman split after 30 years

Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman are breaking up.

A spokesman for DeVito says the couple is separating after 30 years of marriage. Publicist Stan Rosenfield offered no other details.

DeVito and Perlman married in 1982 and have three adult children. The couple worked together on TV's "Taxi" from 1978 to 1982.

Together, the couple established the production company Jersey Films, which counts "Pulp Fiction," "Erin Brockovich" and "Out of Sight" among its credits.

DeVito stars in TV's "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." Perlman is best known for her long-running role on "Cheers."

Woman on 'Wife Swap' as teen to plead not guilty

A former teen pageant princess once featured in the reality show "Wife Swap" is expected to plead not guilty this week to charges of prostitution and drug possession.

Alicia Guastaferro, who turned 21 last month, was arrested at a New York Thruway travel plaza in August. Court documents say she told state troopers the Rochester attorney she was with, James Doyle, paid her as much as $700 twice a month to spend the night and have sex.

Guastaferro sued ABC over the "Wife Swap" episode, saying its unfair portrayal of a spoiled 15-year-old made her a target of ridicule.

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The lawsuit was settled last year.

Bear Grylls making competition series for NBC

Bear Grylls will soon have some company on his in-the-wild adventures.

NBC said Monday that it is making a competition series with Grylls. He is the former star of Discovery's "Man vs. Wild" series that tested his survival skills in foreboding settings

The NBC series, "Get Out Alive," is planned for airing next summer. In it, Grylls will guide two teams in adventures. He says competitors will learn survival skills and teamwork but will have to suffer some pain before being rewarded in the end.

Grylls is co-producing the series with Electus, the studio run by former NBC entertainment chief Ben Silverman.

CNN starting film unit

CNN says it is starting a new unit to make feature-length documentaries to show both on television and in movie theaters.

Its first project, "Girl Rising," tells the story of several girls fighting tough odds to achieve their dreams. It features voiceovers by Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Kerry Washington and Selena Gomez. Richard Robbins, who made the wartime documentary "Operation Homecoming," will direct it.

CNN said Monday that "Girl Rising" will premiere next spring.

The network, which is searching for ideas to turn around flagging ratings, said the films will air several times on CNN and be accompanied by on-air discussions.

Judy Garland's 'Wizard of Oz' dress up for auction

The Dorothy dress is going up for auction.

Celebrity auctioneer Darren Julien says Judy Garland's original costume from "The Wizard of Oz" could sell for half a million dollars when it hits the auction block next month.

The white puff-sleeve blouse and blue gingham pinafore has inspired countless Halloween costumes since the film was released in 1939. Although several identical dresses were made for the production, the dress to be sold is the only version seen in the film and the only complete original dress to survive.

The outfit will be on view at London's Stafford Hotel beginning Tuesday, before being exhibited at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, Calif., Nov. 5-9, prior to the auction Nov. 9-10.

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